Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 13706

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Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 10 Victoriei Street, 550025 Sibiu, Romania
Interests: quality engineering and management; intellectual property protection management; knowledge and innovation management; strategic management; experimental research and data processing; economic and technical statistics; assisted design of control and processing devices; design of devices; non-conventional technologies
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School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Interests: Cs-STEM; in situ TEM; nanoindentation; alumina; titanium; twinning
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Department of Engineering and Technology Management, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Engineering - Northern University Centre of Baia Mare, 62A, Victor Babeș Street, 430083 Baia Mare, Maramures, Romania
Interests: industrial design; design of experiments; industrial processes; manufacturing engineering; project management; CAD/CAM/CAE; quality standardization; quality management systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Given that modern industry is driven by economic and environmental factors, it faces a pressing need to improve efficiency, safety, and reliability. Despite the constant development of new materials, advanced high-strength steels, aluminum alloys, and magnesium remain key materials in this competitive scenario, mainly due to their balanced performance, especially low costs, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, high strength corrosion, good machinability, and competitive processing costs.

Therefore, I am pleased to invite you to submit manuscripts to the Special Issue “Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel”.

This Special Issue aims to encourage the dissemination of high-quality research on the relationship between mechanical properties and processing methods, microstructural properties, and chemical composition. The thematic area is wide and aims to include interesting and innovative research that contributes to the development of this interdisciplinary field of scientific research.

  • Surface treatment
  • Coatings
  • Coating resistance
  • Layer adhesion
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Material science
  • Industrial design
  • Design of experiments
  • Industrial processes
  • Manufacturing engineering

Prof. Dr. Aurel Mihail TITU
Dr. Bin Miao
Dr. Alina Bianca POP
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Surface
  • Roughness
  • Mechanical properties
  • Materials
  • Design of experiment
  • Quality assurance
  • Coatings

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 186 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue: Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel
by Aurel Mihail Titu, Bin Miao and Alina Bianca Pop
Coatings 2022, 12(9), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12091349 - 16 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1608
Abstract
The subject of coatings is mainly analyzed in different fields [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 4069 KiB  
Article
Electroless ZnO Deposition on Mg-Al Alloy for Improved Corrosion Resistance to Marine Environments
by Luis Chávez, Lucien Veleva and Andrea Castillo-Atoche
Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14091192 - 15 Sep 2024
Viewed by 569
Abstract
Electroless ZnO (≈900 nm) was deposited on the surface of an Mg-Al alloy (AM60) to reduce its degradation in the marine environment. Uncoated and coated ZnO samples were exposed to an SME simulated marine solution for up to 30 days. The AFM and [...] Read more.
Electroless ZnO (≈900 nm) was deposited on the surface of an Mg-Al alloy (AM60) to reduce its degradation in the marine environment. Uncoated and coated ZnO samples were exposed to an SME simulated marine solution for up to 30 days. The AFM and optical images revealed that the corrosion attack on the ZnO-AM60 surface was reduced due to an increase in the surface hydrophobicity of the ZnO coating (contact angle of ≈91.6°). The change in pH to more alkaline values over time was less pronounced for ZnO-AM60 (by ≈13%), whereas the release of Mg2+ ions was reduced by 34 times, attributed to the decrease in active sites on the Mg-matrix provided by the electroless ZnO coating. The OCP (free corrosion potential) of ZnO-AM60 shifted towards less negative values of ≈100 mV, indicating that electroless ZnO may serve as a good barrier for AM60 in a marine environment. The calculated polarization resistance (Rp), based on EIS data, was ≈3 times greater for ZnO-AM60 than that of the uncoated substrate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel)
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14 pages, 11809 KiB  
Article
Duplex Surface Modification of M2 High-Speed Steel
by Maria Ormanova, Georgi Kotlarski, Dimitar Dechev, Nikolay Ivanov, Borislav Stoyanov and Stefan Valkov
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070798 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 927
Abstract
In this investigation, a duplex surface modification of M2 high-speed steel (HSS) was demonstrated, including electron beam treatment (EBT) followed by a tungsten nitride (WN) coating deposition. The influence of the EBT of the substrate on the functional properties of the film was [...] Read more.
In this investigation, a duplex surface modification of M2 high-speed steel (HSS) was demonstrated, including electron beam treatment (EBT) followed by a tungsten nitride (WN) coating deposition. The influence of the EBT of the substrate on the functional properties of the film was also studied. The phase composition of the EBT sample consists of Fe (the main element in the M2 HSS), as well as MC and M6C carbides, while the phase composition of the EBT + WN sample consists of the α’-Fe, M6C, and WN phases. The depth of the treated zone is about 20 μm, and the thickness of the WN coating is about 300 nm in all cases. The hardness of the coating deposited on the EBT substrate is 12.4 GPa, while that of the WN film deposited on the untreated substrate is 8.8 GPa. The application of the electron beam treatment procedure and deposition of WN film leads to an improvement in the tribological properties where the coefficient of friction decreases from 0.81 to 0.66. However, the same coating deposited on untreated substrate exhibits even less friction coefficient values of 0.54. The applied modification technique suggests that this is a viable method for improving the mechanical and tribological properties of the surface of tool steels and, thus, their longevity and applicability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel)
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30 pages, 15807 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Corrosion Behavior of Zinc Coatings for Two Anti-Corrosive Protections: A Detailed Study
by Alina Bianca Pop, Gheorghe Iepure, Aurel Mihail Titu and Sandor Ravai-Nagy
Coatings 2023, 13(8), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13081460 - 19 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3801
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to characterize and evaluate the corrosion behavior of zinc coatings used for corrosion protection, with a special focus on the S235 steel material. The introduction highlights the need for corrosion protection in industrial settings, as well as [...] Read more.
The purpose of this research is to characterize and evaluate the corrosion behavior of zinc coatings used for corrosion protection, with a special focus on the S235 steel material. The introduction highlights the need for corrosion protection in industrial settings, as well as the importance of understanding corrosion processes and the development of corrosion products to develop more effective solutions. The study’s goals are to undertake an extensive analysis of corrosion products formed on the zinc coating’s surface, to evaluate the performance of these coatings under atmospheric circumstances, and to investigate the effect of deposition parameters on coating quality. The essential message provided to readers is the critical significance of knowing corrosion product formation mechanisms and zinc coating corrosion behavior in developing long-lasting and effective protection measures. The study methodology includes cycle testing, morphological and chemical examination of corrosion products, as well as optical and electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Corrosion resistance is assessed using accurate measurements. The results show that zinc coatings have exceptional corrosion resistance under air settings, with the produced corrosion products offering further protection to the underlying material. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the surface roughness of S235 steel has a substantial impact on the quality and corrosion behavior of hot-dip galvanized coatings. The findings emphasize the necessity of detailed characterization of corrosion products, the effect of depositional factors on zinc coating performance, and the need for novel corrosion protection methods. These discoveries have significant implications for the corrosion protection sector, providing the potential to improve the longevity and efficiency of protective systems used in industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel)
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20 pages, 7077 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Coating of Polystyrene–ZrO2 for Corrosion Protection of AM Magnesium Alloys
by Luis Chávez, Lucien Veleva, Diana Sánchez-Ahumada and Rafael Ramírez-Bon
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13061059 - 7 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1684
Abstract
A hybrid material of polystyrene (PS)–ZrO2 was developed by the sol–gel technique and deposited by spin-coating on AM60 and AM60–AlN nanocomposite surfaces to enhance corrosion resistance in marine environments. PS–ZrO2 with an average thickness of ≈ [...] Read more.
A hybrid material of polystyrene (PS)–ZrO2 was developed by the sol–gel technique and deposited by spin-coating on AM60 and AM60–AlN nanocomposite surfaces to enhance corrosion resistance in marine environments. PS–ZrO2 with an average thickness of ≈305 ± 20 nm was dispersed homogeneously, presenting isolated micro–nano-structure defects with air trapped inside, which led to an increase in roughness (≈4 times). The wettability of the coated substrates was close to the hydrophobic border (θCA=90°94°). The coated samples were exposed for 30 days to SME solution, simulating the marine–coastal ambience. The initial pH = 7.94 of the SME shifted to more alkaline pH ≈ 8.54, suggesting the corrosion of the Mg matrix through the coating defects. In the meantime, the release of Mg2+ from the PS–ZrO2-coated alloy surfaces was reduced by ≈90% compared to that of non-coated. Localized pitting attacks occurred in the vicinity of Al–Mn and β–Mg17Al12 cathodic particles characteristic of the Mg matrix. The depth of penetration (≈23 µm) was reduced by ≈85% compared to that of non-coated substrates. The protective effect against Cl ions, attributed to the hybrid PS–ZrO2-coated AM60 and AM60–AlN surfaces, was confirmed by the increase in their polarization resistance (Rp) in 37% and 22%, respectively, calculated from EIS data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel)
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33 pages, 76533 KiB  
Article
Research on the Influence of Coating Technologies on Adhesion Anti-Corrosion Layers in the Case of Al7175 Aluminum Alloy
by Aurel Mihail Titu, Sandor Ravai-Nagy and Alina Bianca Pop
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13061054 - 6 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1765
Abstract
A key element in ensuring the service life and strength of aluminum alloys in many industrial applications is the adhesion of anti-corrosion coatings. The aim of this study is to analyze how coating processes affect the adhesion of anti-corrosion coatings on aluminum alloy [...] Read more.
A key element in ensuring the service life and strength of aluminum alloys in many industrial applications is the adhesion of anti-corrosion coatings. The aim of this study is to analyze how coating processes affect the adhesion of anti-corrosion coatings on aluminum alloy 7175. In other words, the influence of the nature of the elementary layers that form the anti-corrosion coating was studied for the following: the anodic layer, the primer, and the topcoat. To learn more about the different coating technologies and how they affect adhesion, a thorough literature review was carried out. In addition, a case study using electrocoating and thermal spraying was conducted to show the impact of coating processes on adhesion. The results showed that electrodeposition, as opposed to thermal spraying, improved the adhesion of anti-corrosion coatings. In the case of the aluminum alloy analyzed, there is a significant difference in terms of the adhesion strength of the anti-corrosion coatings. This resistance is influenced by both the anodic coating (BSA TSA SAA) and the type of primer and topcoat used (water-based or solvent-based). The correct choice of anode coat and primer and topcoat can lead to an increase (or decrease) in the adhesion strength of the paint coat by 20%. In conclusion, this study highlights how crucial it is to select the best coating process to maximize the adhesion and durability of aluminum alloys under corrosion conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel)
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33 pages, 35756 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Galvanizing on the Surface Quality and Part Precision of S235J0 Alloy Machined by Turning
by Sandor Ravai-Nagy, Aurel Mihail Titu and Alina Bianca Pop
Coatings 2023, 13(4), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13040701 - 30 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2259
Abstract
This scientific paper aims to determine the optimal economic roughness of galvanized surfaces by studying the influence of turning surface roughness on the quality of galvanizing. The thickness of the zinc layer, its corrosion resistance, and the precision of the galvanized parts were [...] Read more.
This scientific paper aims to determine the optimal economic roughness of galvanized surfaces by studying the influence of turning surface roughness on the quality of galvanizing. The thickness of the zinc layer, its corrosion resistance, and the precision of the galvanized parts were also examined. S235J0 steel samples were processed using a turning operation to obtain different roughness values. Three galvanizing technologies, galvanic galvanizing, hot dip galvanizing, and hot dip galvanizing with centrifugation, were used in the experiments. The surface evolution from turning to zinc layer deposition was monitored, and parts were subjected to salt spray corrosion resistance testing. Statistical analysis confirmed the stability of the technologies used and the accuracy of the experimental data. Optimal roughness ranges for galvanizing were determined based on the quality of the surface before galvanizing and the galvanizing technology used. The findings show that avoiding small roughness values leads to savings in the machining phases. From the dimensional accuracy perspective, the parts have smaller dimensions after galvanizing, and the dimensional accuracy decreases. The study confirms that steel parts are protected from corrosion, and degradation of the zinc layer is more advanced in sections with less roughness. The optimal surface roughness values before galvanizing were determined to be Ra < 3.657 m in the case of HDG, Ra < 3.344 m in the case of HDG+C, and Ra > 2.928 μm in the case of ZP. The conclusions drawn from this study introduce new directions of research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel)
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